In 2022, the Politburo for the first time issued six resolutions on socio-economic development and defence - security safeguarding for six regions, believed to be a necessary and judicious move to optimise each region’s potential and promote national development.

The 13th National Party Congress devised the socio-economic development strategy for 2030, with a vision to 2045, which targets that by 2030, Vietnam will have become a developing country with modern industry and upper-middle income, and by 2045 a developed and high-income country.

The strategy also identified an orientation for the development of regions – fully capitalising on each region’s advantages on infrastructure, natural conditions, geo-economic and geo-political positions, and human resources, along with enhancing connectivity within each region and among different regions so as to promote their participation in global value chains and create new development spaces.

The six regions are the northern midland and mountainous region, the Mekong Delta, the Central Highlands, the southeastern region, the northern and coastal central region, and the Red River Delta.

Each region has its own characteristics, potential, advantages as well as difficulties and challenges. To bring into play their potential and advantages and the whole country’s, aside from common development policies, it is also necessary to issue specific and appropriate ones for each region.

Developing regions is a consistent guideline of the Party to fully tap into potential and advantages of regions and localities nationwide to serve socio-economic development, ensure defence and security safeguarding, and improve people’s material and spiritual life.

As soon as the resolutions were released, the Politburo and the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat held conferences to disseminate the documents among the ministries, sectors, and localities, and launch the implementation.

Addressing those events, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong stressed the resolutions’ importance, noting the first and foremost task of thoroughly grasping and effectively implementing them in order to translate guidelines, directions, and policies into reality.

He also emphasised that in addition to being fully aware of the resolutions’ purposes, significance, requests, and content, it is important to guarantee high consensus across the whole country, the entire regions, localities in each region, and authorities from central to local levels; understand that this is the responsibility of the entire political system, not only of the six regions or their localities; be properly aware of and deal with the relationship between regional and national development; and promote the consensus on the importance of the regions and regional connectivity.

Given this, the building, issuance, and implementation of the six resolutions are believed to hold great necessity for realising the goals set in the resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, including turning Vietnam into a developing country with modern industry and upper-middle income by 2030 and a developed and high-income country by 2045.

13 people killed, 15 injured in traffic accidents on January 21

January 21, the second day of the week-long lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, saw 13 people killed and 15 others injured in 22 traffic accidents across the country, according to the Traffic Police Department.

The police handled 3,399 violations, seized 111 cars, 1,463 motorcycles and 16 other vehicles, and revoked 789 driving licenses. They issued fines worth a total of more than VND7.5 billion.

Out of the total of violations, 1,232 drivers broke regulations regarding wine and beer drinking, an increase of 1,107 cases compared to January 19.

The traffic police said traffic in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the two largest localities in Vietnam, was not busy on January 21 as most workers and students had already returned to their home for family reunion.

Meanwhile, January 20 saw 25 traffic accidents happen across the country, leaving 14 dead and 17 injured.

The traffic police of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have been deployed to control and regulate traffic to ensure there is no congestion in hotspots, including gateways and ring roads.

Weathering the storm, Vietnam builds confidence in a year ahead

Last year represented a difficult period for the whole world with numerous challenges, but Vietnam stood firm to weather the storm and record outstanding achievements, paving the way for it to reap new successes in the year ahead.

The past year ended with almost several trends that could not have been predicted. After two years of exhaustion due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the world began to move into a new period, with high hopes that the crisis was over. However, the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out, exerting far-reaching consequences on a global scale. The protracted conflict reversed all predictions, leading to disruption of key supply chains.

In a highly-globalised world, economies are largely dependent on each other, and unimaginably the military conflict happening in the heart of Europe even fueled the price of a bowl of Phở (noodles) or a cup of coffee in Hanoi.

Extreme circumstances, coupled with tireless efforts, aspirations, and disappointment, as well as pessimism, made its ways into every corner of the world. Entering 2022, the Vietnamese economy that boasts a high level of openness and international trade nearly twice the size of GDP, was forced to also bear the brunt of those challenges.

Against this backdrop, the country introduced bold measures, including living safely and flexibly with COVID-19 and reopening its borders to the world, as a means of rebooting its ailing economy. Its efforts paid off, with GDP expanding by 8.02%, import-export turnover rising by 9.5%, and budget revenue exceeding the estimate by 26.4%.

Furthermore, the anti-corruption campaign was accelerated nationwide, with a series of business scandals involving large enterprises in the real estate, finance, and banking sectors brought to light and a number of officials disciplined.

The Party’s resolve to handle the root cause of corruption may have short-term consequences, but it will certainly develop the country’s long-term stability and healthy development. That’s why prestigious international partners and institutions have made positive forecasts about the country’s economic prospects moving forward.

Last year witnessed a range of important decisions being made, with a specific focus on removing bottlenecks in institutions, infrastructure, and human resources development. These efforts have helped to fuel optimism in people, businesses, and society as a whole towards further development, integration, and innovation, and this is an irreversible trend.

Despite these efforts, the country faced difficulties and paradoxes in the last months of 2022 due to unpredictability of the global situation. Inflation was controlled as planned, but deposit and lending interest rates remained high. Large firms lacked production orders, forcing them to lay off employees, while the general demand for labour increased sharply. Businesses recorded sound performances in general, but many continue to worry about their future ahead in the coming months.

These issues have both objective but also psychological factors, as well as other factors that cannot be completely anticipated. It’s highly likely that in addition to the impact of inflation and the global economic recession, the Vietnamese economy, industries, and businesses will have to restructure themselves. As a mean of properly assessing the situation, it is necessary to keep a cool head with regard to the current situation.

Uncertainty, complexity, volatility, and ambiguity are set to continue to dominate the world in the year ahead. A country with a high level of openness, as well as determination to integrate comprehensively like Vietnam must always be well prepared to face unprecedented challenges. To weather the storm, Vietnam should look at their inner strength to see their own potential, advantages, and disadvantages, as well as to introduce appropriate solutions.

It is not by chance that Vietnam discussed and talked a lot about culture in 2022. Following the 2021 National Cultural Conference, there were concrete, practical, and serious actions adopted in order to develop Vietnamese cultural and national value systems. At the same time, there were solutions aimed at improving institutions, policies, and mobilising resources for cultural development.

It is therefore impossible to fan the desire to make the country stronger and more powerful without the root foundation of culture. Economic development remains an issue that can be discussed over the short-term, but cultural development is a long-term issue that needs to be addressed both thoroughly and comprehensively.

It can be seen as necessary to make wisdom-based decisions and to take appropriate actions in order to build an advanced culture imbued with national identity, thereby making culture the spiritual foundation and the endogenous strength of the nation whilst guiding national development.

Many Vietnamese leaders and business executives pointed out that the country’s image in the eyes of foreigners is completely different from what it was many years ago. No longer asking for help, the country is now standing on an equal footing with partners, having an important voice and looking for opportunities to cooperate and win together. The country’s national status has thereby improved, and along with a glorious history and a long-standing culture, it is important that its aggregate strength has changed.

Not to mention diplomatic achievements, large Vietnamese technology groups have gradually made inroads into demanding software markets such as Japan and the Republic of Korea, generating billions of US$ in revenue in the process. They have gained a firm foothold overseas, not only thanks to their outstanding products and services, but they have also been convinced by the beauty of Vietnamese culture.

The ‘cultural passport’ of each nation is not only measured by overseas visits by great men, heroes, cultural activists, or scientists, but also by businesses with unique products and services. In line with this, Vietnam continues to do a good job.

Keeping wisdom and peace of mind when making major decisions, as well as in each specific behaviour, is therefore a must at this time. It is also necessary to maintain a spirit of tolerance in order to spread the spirit of humanity in all circumstances. That can be viewed as the root of positive spiritual emotions that drive both commitment and devotion.

With strong determination, will, and perseverance, let’s continue to promote Vietnamese aspirations, with a focus on its bravery and wisdom, in order to realise the development goals towards 100 years the Communist Party of Vietnam in 2030 and 100 years of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam ahead in 2045.

Vietnam, Thailand eye bright cooperation prospects in all fields: Thai Ambassador

On the occasion of the new year 2023, Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Nikorndej Balankura has granted Vietnam News Agency an interview, during which he expressed optimism about the future prospects of the Vietnam-Thailand ties in 2023 when the two countries celebrate the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership.

Noting that more Thai investors are interested in Vietnam, the ambassador hailed Vietnam’s effective efforts to curb COVID-19 pandemic effects.

He highlighted that while most countries in the world have stagnated, Vietnam has maintained its growth which is estimated to reach 8% in 2022. Prominently, in the third quarter of 2022, Vietnam grew at a record 13.67%.

According to the diplomat, the result is very commendable, especially when one takes into account the global recession, the supply chain disruption that has been felt globally and also the fact that Vietnam has come up with a new economic trade target, becoming Net-Zero country by 2050. These all help attract foreign direct investment from around the world, particularly from Thailand.

Ambassador Nikorndej Balankura held that in 2023, there will be headwinds that could slow down the economy of the world. These can be seen by the global recession that might occur globally, higher inflation across the world, as well as the increase interest rates. However, despite all this slowdown, IMF still forecast that Southeast Asia, both Thailand and Vietnam, will grow positively, he noted.

“I am confident that Vietnam with the reasons I mentioned before, will maintain that growth, a high growth actually in comparison to other countries and will remain more or less well shielded from the global economic disruptions that are being caused by the recessions,” he stated.

“Also, with regards to bilateral trade, and investment, Thailand now ranks ninth among investors in Vietnam. And I foresee the strong interest in Thai foreign investors to Vietnam, as well as Vietnam economic policy that attracts foreigners. I hope that Thailand will be among the top five in the very near future,” said the diplomat.

Commenting on Vietnam’s election to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 tenure, the Thai ambassador said that in the past years, Vietnam had very successfully been a member of the Security Council and had represented the Asia region and Southeast Asia in particular very well

“I think that the fact that Vietnam has been elected (to the UN Human Rights Council) is both commendable and well deserved. Vietnam is an ASEAN candidature so Vietnam’s candidacy has been supported by both ASEAN and of course, Thailand,” he said.

This is the second time Vietnam has joined the Human Rights Council after the first time in the 2014- 2016 tenure, he noted, adding that it will strengthen the Vietnamese human rights record, advancing the protection and promotion of human rights. He said that Thailand, which had been a member of the council from 2010 to 2013, will be running for 2025 to 2027.

Over the relationship between the two countries, Ambassador Nikorndej said that the two countries will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the bilateral strategic partnership in 2023, but the partnership has been elevated to strengthened strategic partnership, which is very special. “This is a special status that only Thailand and Vietnam enjoy in ASEAN,” he said.

“It's a close bond shared by neighbours, by brothers and by family. So I think it's a very special stature. And what we have achieved in the past 10 years is countless. So many things we have achieved,” affirmed the diplomat.

He noted that politically, there has been exchanges of visits, both at the highest level. Economically, in the past 10 years, the ties have grown tremendously. Thailand has become the top 10 investors, second only to Singapore in ASEAN.

“And as I mentioned, with Vietnam's economic policy that is much more open, and that Vietnam wants to achieve net-zero by 2050, I think that Thai investors on in renewable energy, digital economy will be very interested to come and invest more in Vietnam,” he said.

“In terms of social interactions of people to people, we have fostered very close ties between the two countries. And I see these ties are going to be even more strengthened because today both Thai and Vietnamese know each other more in terms of culture, language, movies, music.”

He noted that just after the pandemic, 400,000 Vietnamese have visited Thailand. Approximately 50,000 Thais have been coming to Vietnam. “And I see this number is growing, the same as the number of flights with several flights a day, and all flights are full,” he said.

Therefore, the ambassador believed that bilateral cooperation is very promising in all aspects - political, economic and people to people aspects.

According to Ambassador Nikorndej, 2023 is an important milestone for Thailand-Vietnam relations. In March, the Royal Thai Embassy plans to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Vietnam-Thailand strategic partnership by strengthening the bilateral relations in a comprehensive manner all aspects of politics, economy, culture, and people-to-people ties. 

“As Vietnam is getting out of the post COVID-19 time and will be fully back to normal, and we will celebrate our partnership, so from Tet onwards I think we will have a series of activities that will make a long year of intense activities together,” he said.

Sharing his feelings about the atmosphere of the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) of Vietnam, he said that it is a confluence of traditional culture and modern society. It's a very special time of a year when people is very joyful. He held that there are many similarities between the celebrations of New Year of Vietnam and Thailand. The Thai New Year, Songkran, which is in April, it is a time of the year when Thais pay respect to the elders, go on vacation and meet friends

“So I see that both New Year's celebrations echo each other’s cultural types. Most prominently, you know, we tend to go visit our elderly, family and make merit at the temples. Vietnamese people I see that they visit the elderly as well. Usually the family gather in bigger groups and meet, and even Vietnamese abroad will fly back and meet their family here in Vietnam. So I see similarities. Thais as well, we tend to come back home during the Songkran Festival,” Ambassador Nikorndej said.

Demand for housing cleaning services on the rise as Tet approaches

For many, hiring a professional cleaning service is the most convenient option. Photo vov.vn

For many, hiring a professional cleaning service is the most convenient option. In recent years, the hourly house cleaning service has become increasingly professionalised.

As the Lunar New Year approaches, families are scrambling to prepare for the biggest holiday of the year by cleaning their houses in the final days leading up to the celebration.

For many, hiring a professional cleaning service is the most convenient option. In recent years, the hourly house cleaning service has become increasingly professionalised.

In the days leading up to Tết, cleaning companies are operating at full capacity to meet the growing demand from customers.

Many different forms of service are available, including family helpers, home-cleaning, carpet cleaning, and general cleaning of the whole house.

According to a representative of a 10-year-old company that supplies home-cleaning services in Hà Nội, the last month of the year is always full of orders.

The representative stated that in the first week of December, orders increased by about 150 per cent compared to November and up to 300 per cent in the third week, with an expected increase of 500 per cent in the last week.

To meet this demand, the company employs up to 1,500 people during this time. The work of domestic home-helpers is divided into shifts, each lasting four hours at the cost of VNĐ100,000 an hour.

If a home helper meets health standards and receives positive customer feedback, they can receive from three to four shifts per day.

In the ten days before Tết, some domestic helpers can earn a total income of between VNĐ12 million and VNĐ20 million.

Bùi Thảo My, 40 and living in Hà Nội, worked for six years as an hourly domestic helper, said that her income increased to VNĐ1.2 million per day in the month before Tết.

Six years ago, My was selling street food outside a school. Through some friends, she found an hourly domestic cleaning job that provides a stable income.

According to My, kitchen cleaning takes the most time.

“With a stable income and suitable shift pattern, I can go home to take care of my family, I feel loved and determined to work for a long time," said My.

My said that the house owners gave many domestic helpers lucky money, cosmetics, bags, and clothes.

“A friend of mine is given a second-hand television and a refrigerator when the homeowner equipped new ones,” said My.

Like many other seasonal domestic workers, on days near Tết, Vũ Thị Đức, 50, a native of the northern province of Quảng Ninh, is busy helping families in Hà Nội.

According to Đức, the cleaning season usually starts from lunar December 20th to the 30th. The main jobs included cleaning the house, ancestral altar, cabinets, tables and chairs, and windows.

“The job could be finished in one day or last three to four days for large houses.”

Previously, Đức worked for a house cleaning company. But two years ago, she left the company to work independently.

"Some homeowners are afraid that I cannot do all the housework at my age.

“But after completing jobs on schedule, they asked me for a direct phone number and then contacted me on their own.”

“Over the years, I have gotten many regular customers who introduce me to others, so I never run out of work on days near Tết,” she said.

Sometimes, demand outstrips capacity, so Đức also gives work to her colleagues.

“If I have enough health, I can earn more than VNĐ1.5 million per day. Occasionally, the homeowner gives me a bonus.”

Đức said that working hard was not enough.

"You must also use experience,” she said. “Each type of stain must choose a different detergent.”

“I must carefully scrub every nook and cranny in the toilet and kitchen.”

The hourly domestic worker must be honest and neat so the owner trusts them next time.

Tết is a time when everyone wishes to return home to reunite with their family. However, many domestic workers live in big cities far from home, so they often try to leave before the holiday starts.

This means that many families struggle to find help.

Nguyễn Thùy Linh, 30, in Long Biên District, Hà Nội, posted online for a domestic helper during the Tết days but could not find anyone suitable.

Linh and her husband work in business, so the end of the year was a busier time than ever.

Therefore, cleaning the house and caring for their 4-year-old son means they need all the help they can get.

“My family’s helper wants to return to her hometown from the 28th of the lunar calendar, so we have to find a daily helper during the Tết days,” said Linh.

“I can pay VNĐ700-VNĐ1 million per day with the main jobs of cleaning the house, cooking and taking care of a child.” 

Hanoi officials pay tribute to ancestors ahead of Lunar New Year

A delegation of the Hanoi Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee offered incense in commemoration of ancestors and late President Ho Chi Minh on January 21, one day ahead of the Year of the Cat.

The delegation visited the monuments to Kings Ly Thai To and Le Thai To, Ngoc Son Temple, Kinh Thien Palace, and House 67 in the President Ho Chi Minh relic complex.

Paying tribute to the ancestors and the late President, the delegation, led by Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung, reported on local achievements and pledged to continue efforts to develop the capital city.

On this occasion, the officials offered Tet greetings and presented gifts to workers of the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Centre and the management board of the President Ho Chi Minh relic complex.

Vietnam's regions to welcome Lunar New Year in different weather conditions

Strong cold will cover the northern region while the south will experience warm weather on the Lunar New Year’s Eve on January 21 and the first days of the Year of the Cat, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Aside from January 21 night, scattered drizzle is also predicted for the north on the night of January 22 and on January 23, the first two days of the Year of the Cat.

On these two days, the region will record strong cold with the lowest temperatures of 14 - 16 degrees Celsius in lowland areas and 12 - 14 degrees Celsius, even under 10 degrees, in mountainous ones. The weather will get warmer during daytime, up to 18 - 22 degrees.

Meanwhile, temperatures will range between 15 and 24 degrees Celsius in the north central provinces from Thanh Hoa to Ha Tinh during January 22 - 24.

People in the Central Highlands and southern regions will celebrate the Year of the Cat in good weather with temperatures of 21 - 25 degrees the lowest and 31 - 34 degrees the highest.

The forecasting centre said the peak of the winter will fall in late January and February, when the northern and north central regions will undergo many days of severe cold, and mountainous areas may record frost and snow.

PM pays Tet visits to Hanoi’s hospitals

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited the Viet Duc University Hospital and the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi on January 21, the day before the Lunar New Year (Tet) - Vietnam’s biggest national festival begins.

At these hospitals, the Government leader visited and presented gifts to some poor patients who are receiving treatment there as well as doctors, physicians and nurses on duty during the Tet holiday.

He took the occasion to extend his best New Year wishes to all hospital staffs and patients and their families.

Talking to the hospitals’ staffs, PM Chinh affirmed that the Party, State and people acknowledge their efforts during the Tet festival, and their contributions to ensuring public health.

Towards the Vietnamese Doctors’ Day (February 27), he said he wishes the two hospitals will promote the tradition of the medical sector, and gain more achievements in protecting and caring for people’s health.

Incense offered to commemorate Hung Kings on Tet occasion

An incense-offering ceremony was held at the top of Nghia Linh Mountain in the northern province of Phu Tho in commemoration of Hung Kings – the legendary founders of the nation – on the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival on January 21 (the last day of the last lunar month).

Vice Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Bui Van Quang reported ancestors on outstanding achievements gained by the country in general and Phu Tho in particular in the past year.

As the Lunar New Year is nearing, he wished the Hung Kings to bless the nation and the people to help the country overcome all difficulties and challenges and successfully implement the set socio-economic development goals.

Legend has it that Au Co, who was a fairy, descended to the earth on the seventh day of the first lunar month. She met with Lac Long Quan and gave birth to 100 sons.

Fifty of them followed their father to the sea and the other 50 followed their mother to the mountains in the upstream of the Red River.

When they arrived in the area which is now Hien Luong commune of Phu Tho’s Ha Hoa district, Au Co and her children were so captivated by the area’s stunning landscapes that they decided to settle there. The eldest son was made king, who named the country Van Lang and set up the capital in Phong Chau (modern-day Viet Tri city in Phu Tho province), beginning the 18 generations of the Hung Kings.

The kings chose Nghia Linh Mountain, the highest in the region, to perform rituals devoted to rice and sun deities to pray for healthy crops.

Party leader offers incense in commemoration of late President Ho Chi Minh

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong offered incense in tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at House 67 inside the Presidential Palace complex in Hanoi on January 20 on the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival - the biggest and longest festival of Vietnamese people.

House 67, where President Ho Chi Minh breathed his last, still keeps many remembrances associated with his life and career.

The Party chief expressed his deep gratitude to the beloved President for devoting his whole life to the national independence and freedom as well as the people’s happiness.

Meeting with the relic site’s staff, the Party leader praised their efforts to well perform their assigned tasks, while asking them to continue introducing the life and revolutionary career of President Ho Chi Minh to both domestic and foreign visitors.

He expressed his wish that the relic site's staff members will have a new year full of happiness and health. 

The Party leader was presented the book “Ho Chi Minh and “Nhat Ky Trong Tu” (Prison Diary), which was published in 2022 on the occasion  of 80 years since the President wrote the work (August 1942 - 2022) and 35 years since UNESCO issued Resolution 24C/18.65, which honours President Ho Chi Minh as a Hero of National Liberation and a Great Man of Culture of Vietnam (November, 1987 - 2022).

House 67 in the Presidential Palace is where President Ho Chi Minh lived, worked and passed away. It provides a venue for the Political Bureau’s meetings during the fiercest years of the Vietnam war.

NA Chairman offers incense in tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh

Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue on January 20 offered incense in tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at House 67 inside the Presidential Palace complex in Hanoi on the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival - the biggest and longest festival of Vietnamese people in a year.

House 67, where President Ho Chi Minh breathed his last, still keeps many remembrances associated with his life and career.

The top legislator affirmed that the NA always make efforts to effectively implement important tasks assigned by the Party, State, voters and people.

In the coming time, the NA will continue to study and perfect the legal framework, serving as the highest-level representative body of the people, he said.

The NA Chairman took this occasion to wish the relic site's staff members a new year full of happiness and good health.

He asked them to fulfill all assigned tasks, especially introducing the life and revolutionary career of President Ho Chi Minh to both domestic and foreign visitors.

In the afternoon of the same day, Hue burned incense the Thang Long Imperial Citadel to commemorate ancestors who had contributed to the protection of the country.

PM pays respect to late government leaders

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh offered incense in tribute to late government leaders Pham Hung, Vo Van Kiet and Phan Van Khai and visited their families in Ho Chi Minh City on January 20, ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival - the biggest and longest festival of Vietnamese people in a year.

At the respective houses of late Chairman of the Council of Ministers (now PM) Pham Hung (1912 – 1988) and late PM Vo Van Kiet (1922 – 2008) in District 3, PM Chinh expressed his gratitude for their significant contributions to the country’s cause of national construction and protection.

Comrade Pham Hung joined the youth movement at the age of 16 and two years later became one of the first members of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) in the South. Later, he served as a member of the Party Central Committee and the Politburo for several successive tenures. In June 1987, the National Assembly chose him as Chairman of the Council of Ministers.

Comrade Vo Van Kiet started participating in revolutionary activities at the age of 16. During his life he went on to serve in many important positions in both the Party and Government. At the 6th National Party Congress, Kiet's ideas and proposals regarding promoting agricultural production and goods production were included into the congress' document, contributing to formulating the Party's Doi Moi (renewal) policy, opening up a period of strong and stable development of the country.

At the house of late PM Phan Van Khai (1933 – 2018) in Cu Chi district, PM Chinh stressed that as the head of the government, then PM Khai had made many important contributions to Vietnam’s reform of legal institutions and integration, especially in economy.

Comrade Phan Van Khai joined the revolution in 1947 and the CPV on July 15, 1959. He was a member of the CPV Central Committee and Politburo member in many consecutive tenures and the PM from 1997 to 2006. Throughout 70 years of revolutionary activities, he made great contributions to the revolutionary cause of the CPV and the nation.

More activities welcome Lunar New Year overseas

The Vietnamese Embassy in Russia has freshly organised a get-together with musical performances, a lucky draw, and a firework display to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year Festival (Tet) – Vietnam’s biggest and longest annual traditional festival.

Addressing the January 19 gathering of the embassy's staff and overseas Vietnamese (OV), Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi expressed his joy that in the face of many difficulties, the expatriate community in Russia has still made contributions to the development of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

He hoped efforts to promote bilateral trade in the past year will create momentum for growth in 2023.

President of the OV association in Russia Do Xuan Hoang said the close relationship between generations of diplomatic missions and the expatriate community remains unchanged despite many fluctuations in the community's life over the years.

Earlier, with a similar purpose, the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela on January 18 held an event to introduce the cultural charms of Tet, featuring photos on Vietnamese people and landscapes, musical performances, and traditional dishes.

Ambassador Le Viet Duyen took this occasion to highlight remarkable progress made in the two countries’ cooperation across fields in the past and thank the host nation’s competent agencies and international friends for their contributions to the ties.

Echoing the view, President of the Venezuela-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians Group Saúl Ortega highly appreciated the good results that the two countries have achieved in all spheres from politics, diplomacy, cooperation at international forums, to economy, society, people-to-people exchanges.

He also expressed admiration for the Vietnamese culture, country and people.

50th anniversary of Paris Peace Accords signing celebrated in French city

A ceremony was held in Choisy-le-Roi city of France on January 19 to mark 50 years since the signing of the Paris Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam (January 27, 1973).

In his speech, Choisy-le-Roi Mayor Tonino Panetta reviewed the historical context that had turned his city into the place for hosting the delegation of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, as well as secret talks between Special Advisor to the delegation Le Duc Tho and US National Security Advisor and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Since then, relations between Choisy-le-Roi and Vietnam have remained particularly strong as seen in the French city’s twin relationship with Dong Da district of Hanoi and many cultural exchanges between the two sides, he said.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang affirmed that Vietnam always highly values the role of Choisy-le-Roi, which shares the common values on peace and solidarity with the Southeast Asian nation.

He expressed his delight at the solidarity and friendship maintained between the two countries, including between Val-de-Marne and Vietnamese localities, especially Choisy-le-Roi and Dong Da, that has become a role model for decentralised cooperation.

The diplomat said he hopes the two sides will uphold this tradition in the time ahead so as to preserve the friendship and solidarity among future generations.

Prior to the ceremony, participants had visited the places associated with the signing of the Paris Peace Accords 50 years ago.

Panetta told the Vietnam News Agency that the signing of the Paris Peace Accords was significant to both Vietnam and the US, as well as Choisy-le-Roi since the reception of the delegation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam’s Government in the city helped promote the negotiations.

Later on January 19, participants watched a documentary film by Daniel Roussel that focused on secret talks, which were stressful battles of mind, from 1968 to 1973 between Special Advisor to the delegation of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam Le Duc Tho and US National Security Advisor and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

To reach the Paris Peace Accords, nearly 250 open and secret meetings took place from March 1968 to January 1973, making this the longest diplomatic negotiation of Vietnam and the world in the 20th century. More than 40 secret sessions were held in Choisy-le-Roi, Gif-sur-Yvette, and Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche cities in the suburbs of Paris.

Source: VNA/SGT/VNS/VOV/Dtinews/SGGP/VGP/Hanoitimes